Yonder Cider & Bale Breaker Brewing Announce Joint Taproom In Ballard

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Many of you probably know about Yonder Cider. However, if you haven’t been following the news you may not be aware that Yonder Cider was recently forced to close their carry-out taproom in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood due to a series of (in my opinion, unfounded) complaints form ONE anonymous and apparently disgruntled neighbor. It was sad and, frankly, maddening to see the city allow a single person’s unverified complaints to shut down a struggling small business with their bogus claims.

Thanks to a new partnership with Bale Breaker Brewing Company, however, Yonder will be back with a vengeance. That’s because Bale Breaker & Yonder have just announced that they will be opening a joint taproom in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood by this Summer. They will be moving into the space formerly occupied by the now closed Populuxe Brewing Company (RIP, Populuxe).

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Hellbent Brewing Announces Moon Tower Stout Collaboration With Boon Boona Coffee

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How do you prefer your Stouts? Do you like them with hazelnuts, or cocoa, or coffee, or vanilla, or any number of other possible adjuncts? Or are you a Stout purist, who prefers their Stouts have no adjuncts whatsoever? Personally, I’m right in the middle. I love a good, pure, basic Stout, but I also enjoy many of the Stouts with various adjuncts added. Coffee is probably one of my favorites.

Hellbent Brewing Company in Lake City has a few Stouts under their belt. Their most well known is probably their Big Island Toasted Coconut Stout. Now, Hellbent is preparing to release their next Stout; a collaboration with Boon Boona Coffee Company out of Renton. It arrives this Thursday, February 25th.

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Counterbalance Brewing Prepares To Celebrate Their 6th Anniversary

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Celebrating brewery anniversaries in the time of COVID19 feels a bit sad. I’ve celebrated quite a few this year, in properly socially-distanced form, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Sure, we can all still do what’s necessary to help support our favorite craft breweries during this difficult time, but not being able to attend a big party/gathering, nor any other type of festivals or craft beer events this year, is really starting to wear on me.

Counterbalance Brewing Company in Georgetown understand this. I know they’d love to have a great big party to celebrate, but that wouldn’t be safe or responsible. Instead, they’ve put together a 3-day event with limited outdoor seating (make your reservations now!), food trucks, and 3 new beer releases and a few  special releases from their cellar.

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Fort George Stout Month 2021

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I enjoy pretty much all styles of craft beer – everything from a light crisp Pilsner, to wonderful complex Saisons and Wild Ales, Old World Ales and more. I know I tend to drink a lot of IPAs (who doesn’t?), but I think my true favorites are really barrel-aged Stouts, Porters and Barleywines. There’s just something about their rich flavors and complex character that really appeals to me.

With that in mind, it’s time to get ready for Stout Month at Fort George Brewery in Astoria, Oregon. That means a whole lot of big, bold, barrel-aged goodness, which makes me very happy. Sadly, there will be no Festival of the Dark Arts this year, thanks to COVID, but Fort George has put together a great lineup of beers that will be available for shipping within Oregon and Washington.

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Let Tavour Help You Discover New Beers While We’re Locked Down

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What a year it’s been. We’ve had to deal with political madness, various ongoing marches and protests across the nation, mask mandates and lockdowns that have hurt and even destroyed so many businesses and forced so many onto unemployment, sports teams playing without any fans in the stands, and more. Thank God for beer, right? It provides at least a bit of joy in these dark and uncertain times.

As I’m sure most of you know, during this latest lockdown, I encourage all of my readers to do their part in supporting our local craft breweries, craft bottle shops and craft beer bars (at least those who are able to still serve right now because they have outdoor seating). They need our help to survive and we want them to still be around when things finally get back to normal – or whatever the new normal will be. Just be sure to always wear your mask and practice proper social distancing when picking up your beverages from your favorite places.

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The 33rd Annual Winter PNA Beer Taste Is Going Virtual

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This year is the 33rd year the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) has hosted their Winter Beer Taste. This year, however, due to COVID19, the PNA Winter Beer Taste is going virtual, with three different online events starting November 12th.

After purchasing your tickets for each of the three events, you’ll have to take a trip down to the PNA Center 5 days before each event to pick up your beers. Make sure they’re chilled, and then kick back and enjoy them in the comfort of your own home.

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Firestone Walker XXIV Anniversary Ale Is On The Way

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Each year, many craft beer fans eagerly await the arrival of Firestone Walker Brewing Company‘s anniversary ale. Always created from a complex blend of other Firestone Walker Ales, it’s different every year and always delicious.

This year’s blend is complete, and Firestone Walker XXIV Anniversary Ale should be arriving in the Seattle market within the next week or so.

Here are the details from Firestone Walker Brewing Company:

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Gemma And Helsar Are Available Now From Fair Isle Brewing

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Fair Isle Brewing in Ballard has two new beers available now:

Gemma
a saison with foraged elderflower and rose hips

4.9% ABV
750mL | 375mL | Draft
BATCH: TWO
PACKAGED: JUNE 2020

Herbaceous and botanical, Gemma is a precious saison infused with rose hips and dried elderflowers foraged from the Cascades by Andrew’s long-time friend and ethnobotanist, Alex.

Batch two has a more pronounced floral and elderflower aroma followed by tart undertones from the rose hips.

 

 

Helsar
a saison infused with cascara from Costa Rica

4.8% ABV
375mL | 750mL | draft
BATCH: ONE
PACKAGED: AUGUST 2020

Cascara in Spanish means “husk” or “shell,” and is used to describe the skin of the coffee fruit that has been removed during depulping.

Named after the micromill where the cascara is sourced, Helsar is a tart saison with notes of cherry fruit leather, tangy apple cider, fresh tomatillos and followed by a lingering orange zest.

 

Order them both at Fair Isle’s online shop, then head down to the brewery for pickup (online preorder not required).

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

Firestone Walker Brings Back Double Jack For The Season

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These days, the New England/Hazy IPA is all the rage. In fact, I’ve even visited a few places over the past year where I couldn’t find a single West Coast style IPA on tap – just hazies. Thankfully, there’s been a bit of push back lately, and I’m starting to see more West Coast IPAs available again.

One of my all time favorite West Coast style IPAs is Double Jack from Firestone Walker Brewing Company out of California. I was sad when they discontinued Double Jack in 2016 in order to focus on the launch their Luponic Distortion series and Leo v. Ursus series of IPAs. Now though, by popular demand, Double Jack is back – at least seasonally.

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Cascade Brewing Releases Mango Road

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There are several breweries in the Seattle/Tacoma area that make some truly excellent Sour Ales. Breweries like Holy Mountain, Urban Family, Mirage and Engine House No. 9 immediately come to mind, among others. I visit them all fairly regularly to satiate my thirst for delicious sours.

Before we had such great sour options around the Sound, however, the best Sour Ales Seattlites could hope to find came out of Portland – specifically Cascade Brewing. Their Sours are legendary around the Northwest and, while we have many great local options now, Cascade is still putting out World class Sour Ales that still catch my interest. They’re a must visit every time I’m in Portland. Now Cascade is preparing to release their latest offering: Mango Road.

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